Shipping freight rates for transporting containers from ports in Asia to Northern Europe fell 8.1 percent to $1,302 per 20-foot container (TEU) in the week ended on Friday, one source with access to data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index told Reuters. Container freight rates have so far increased in 9 weeks this year but fallen in 19 weeks. Average rates for 2014 are $1,277 per TEU compared with $1,090 last year. The comprehensive index fell 2.6 percent to $1,100 per TEU. The rates to ports in the Mediterranean dropped 7.8 percent but were stable on routes to the U.S. West and East Coasts. Maersk Line, the global market leader with nearly 600 container vessels and part of Danish oil and shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk, was one of the few container shipping companies to make a profit last year.